The storm struck Madagascar and moved across the island, later crossing the Mozambique Channel and striking eastern Mozambique. The storm recurved to the east, passing south of Madagascar.[1]
On February 26, Cyclone Jenny was first observed to the northeast of Rodrigues. The storm moved west-southwestward between Rodrigues and St. Brandon. On February 28, Jenny passed about 30 km (20 mi) north of Mauritius, where the storm produced wind gusts of 235 km/h (146 mph).[2][3] On the island, the storm killed 17 people and left thousands of people homeless. Later on February 28, the storm struck Réunion, killing 36 people; wind gusts at the Roland Garros Airport reached 250 km/h (160 mph). Jenny destroyed 3,851 homes on Réunion and severely damaged another 2,619, many of them wooden, leaving about 20,000 people homeless. The storm also destroyed crops, and wrecked about 80% of the island's telephone lines. After the close succession of Carol and Jenny, officials rebuilt most homes with concrete to withstand future storms.[4]
Existed south of Diego Garcia and executed a loop at the end of its track.[6]
Other storms
A tropical depression briefly existed in the northeast portion of the basin from January 19–21. At the time, it was part of the neighboring Australian basin, east of 80°.[7] On January 22, a system named Emily existed briefly west of that general region.[8]